Goal-hopper



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. SWINDELL.

GOAL HUPPBR.

No.'27'0,149`. Patente'dJan. 2, 1883.

N. rentas. maw-umagmmqf. wmmgm (No Model.)

' 2 Sheets8heet 2. W. SWINDELL. y

GOAL HOPPER.

Patented Jan. 2, 1883.

n Pneus. Pnmmmgrapw. washingwn. D. c.

y plate is provided with a coal-opening, a', and

longitudinal grooves or ways a2.

" land 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM swInDnLL, on ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNsYLvANIA.

COAL-HOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known ythat I, WILLIAM SWINDELL, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Goal-Hoppers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My improved hopperis designed for use with gas-producers and similar furnaces; and it is intended to effect the instantaneous feeding of the fuel tothe furnace without uncovering the feedfhole, in order to prevent the consequent escape ot' gas and interruption ofthe operation of the furnace.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line :v :a of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section on the line y y of Fig. 3. Fig.v3 is a section on the-line z z of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 are respectively a vertical longitudinal4 section and pian partly in section of a modified form. Fig. Gis a plan view, partly in section, of another modified form, showing the same in two different positions.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

Referringg'now, to Figs. l, 2, and 3, a indicates the top plate ot' ai gas-producer. rlhis Placed on the ways a2 is a slide, b, having holes b b2 and flanges b3 b4, projecting inwardly around the holes. The slide b is operated in the ways a2 by means of a lever, c, which is pivoted to a standard, c', and is connected to the slide by means of a link, c2, such link being pivotally connected to the lever and slide by pivots c3 and c4. r

I Resting upon the ange b3, over a hole, b', is a removable coal-hopper, which is of square, cylindrical, or other suitable form, and is provided with a sliding lid, d', having bails d2,

which are of suliicient height to extend out of the upper end of the'hopper when the lid is at its lower end, as shown in Figs. l and 2. At the upper end the bails are connected by a l cross-strap, d3, and are provided with stops part of Letters Patent No. 270,149, dated January 2, 1883.A Application filed october e1, 1882. (No model.)

d, which, when the lid has reached the lower end of the hopper, rest upon its upper edge and prevent the further descent of the lid. The hole b2 is closed'bfv a lid, e, which rests upon the flange b4, and, is provided. with a removable stopper closing a poke-hole, e3, the purpose of which is to enable the furnace to be poked. rlhe placing ofthe end of the hopthere by the liange b3 not only secures it properl y in place and steadies it during the move ments of the slide, but also secures a tight joint between the hopper and slide, which prevents leaking at that point, and facility in placing the removable hopperon the slide. Y

The operation of my improvement is as follows: The hopper, being in the position shown in Fig. l, is filled to the required height with fuel, and then the lid d is inserted into it and rests upon the fuel. The slide is then pushed forward over the feed-opening a by means of a lever, c. As soon as the opening b comes over the feed-opening a the coal slides down per inside of the opening b and supporting it out of the hopper into the furnacethe lid d! fol lowing and keeping the furnace tightly closed. When all the coal is discharged the lid d reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, with its stops di* resting on the upper end of the hopper. The slide is then retracted, so as to brin g the lid e over the hole c.

It will be noticed that during theoperation of feeding the furnace the feedhole a is always closed, either by the lid e or by the solid part ofthe slide, or by the lid d; and hence the escape of gas and the'interruption of the .draft of the furnace are prevented. The result is a saving of the fuel and the. securing of the regular operation ot' the furnace.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a modiiied form. Here the top plate, et, has a circular groove, j', and the slide b is of circular form and has a similarly-shaped tongue, b5, and is solid between the holes b b2.' 1t has a circular movement upon a central pivot, g, and is moved by a bar or lever inserted into a socket, h, made at one side. The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 lis the same as that shown' in Figsrl, 2, and 3, with the exception that the slide has a circular instead of a rectilinear movement.

IOO

. ing by the heat of the furnace.

In Fig. 6 1 show another modified form ot'l construction, in which kthe slide bis made in the form ot' a segment, which oscillates upon the pivot g', and is moved by a suitable bar or lever inserted into a socket, h. The pivoted or circularlymoving `slide is of advantage Where the space'for the gas-producer is liniited, as it enables the sli'de with its double opening to be applied in a smaller space'than is required for the rst construction. The sliding lid prevents the gas from rising in to the empty hopper, and thereby prevents any interruption of the draft and secures greater cleanliness. I do not limit myself to any particular form of hopper; but when a sliding lid is Aused it is necessary that the internal form should be such as to permit such movement'. The hopper is removable, so as to be easily taken away when not needed, or for repairs or other purposes. v

If desired, the door'c may be lined with brick or tile to protect it from burning ont or Warp- The groove or grooves t2 and the tongue or tongues b5, which slide in the grooves, have the further function of acting as a sealing-joint to prevent the escape of the gas.

If the slide were made with a plain sliding under surface, it would be liable to be raised 011" of the plate et by small pieces of coal getting between them, and thus make an opening which would permit the escape of the gas. This danger is completely obviated bythe use of the tongue and groove."he presenceot' this feature in Fig. 6 is indicated by the curved broken lines. rlhe tongue and groove may be of V shape, if desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination ot' the top plate of a furnace, havinga feed-hole, with a sliding plate covering the feed-hole and having an openended hopper, and a sliding lid in said hopper, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the open-ended hopper with a sliding lid having bails which are provided with stops to limit the movement ot' the lid, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the top plate of a gasproducer,havingafeed-hole,withaslidingplate carrying a hopper, and tongueand -groove guideways between the plate and slide, forming a sealing-joint, whereby the escape ot' gas is prevented, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of October, A. D. 1882.

WILLIAM SWINDELL. Witnesses:

W. B. CoRWIN, T. B. KERR. 

